Object Title

Sword

Sword

Date

1712

Object Number

IX.894

Provenance

Ex De Cosson collection. Presented to the museum in 1947

Physical Description

Hilt: comprising pommel, knuckle guard with integral quillon and arms, two oval symmetrical shell guards, all in bright ferrous metal and a wooden grip with decorative wire binding. Apart from the grip and simple hollow cruciform section of the arms, all elements of the hilt are decorated with pierced and chiselled foliage.
Blade: heavily gilt, etched with the following inscriptions at the forte:
on the obverse; 'Dem herzen dem Ich diene dem opfere Ich mein Leben'
[I sacrifice my life to the heart I serve]
on the reverse; 'Die Sede aber dem, der Seg Mir hat gegeben'. Ao 1712
[But my soul goes to the one who blessed me]

Dimensions

Dimensions: Overall length: 972 mm (38.25 in), blade length: 781 mm (30.75 in) Weight: 566 g (1 lb 4 oz)

Associations

Places Italy
Germany

Bibliographic References

A.R. Dufty and A. Borg, European Swords and Daggers in the Tower of London, London, 1974, p. 27, and pl. 63c.

Information

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